Rapids Weekly Team Update

COMMERCE CITY COLO. (September 3 2008) – The Rapids head out today to Dallas in preparation for their third straight road match their longest stint away from Dick’s Sporting Goods Park this season.

The team trained Monday (no holidays in professional sports) Tuesday and Wednesday with added emphasis on finishing drills. After having to practice on different fields throughout the complex due to maintenance on their normal training field the players returned Tuesday to their regular weekly pitch which looked almost too good to step on thanks to the efforts of the Field's Crew.

This season the Rapids are 1-0-0 under the national ESPN Thursday night broadcast spotlight. Colorado defeated Real Salt Lake 2-0 on May 15 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in their only other match on the world wide leader.

This week’s game is also the first time this season that the team has returned to a visiting venue for a second time for a regular season match. Besides the two trips to Pizza Hut Park to face FC Dallas the Rapids will wrap up their final two road contests with back-to-back trips to The Home Depot Center to play the Los Angeles Galaxy and Chivas USA on Oct. 12 and Oct. 19 respectively. The team has already played the Galaxy at The Home Depot Center as well back on June 7.

After being hit with a rash of injuries over the last few weeks the Rapids are starting to get back to health.

Terry Cooke practiced without limitations this week and could make a return to the starting lineup. Pablo Mastroeni should return to the first 11 as well but with limited training during the week his hamstring could dictate how long he plays.

Mehdi Ballouchy Ugo Ihemelu and Greg Dalby won’t be making the trip to Dallas for this week’s match as they worked with the training staff during practice. All three were listed as Questionable on this week’s injury report and should make great strides in their progress in the next week.

WEEKLY TEAM NOTES

No Bouna for Thursday’s Match: Rapids goalkeeper Bouna Condoul was once again called up by Senegal for their FIFA World Cup Qualifier. Senegal travels to Algeria on Friday with a chance of clinching first in their group. Coundoul has earned two caps and been called up five times in less than a year.

Big Pub for the Cantina: The Cantina at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park is this week’s MLS Pub of the Week. With events like Marcelo Balboa’s Tuesday night "From the Pitch’ radio show live broadcast Thursday night Trivia (Details) and Rapids games the Cantina is the best way to experience soccer in Colorado. Located on the South concourse between gates "D" and "E the Cantina features a full-menu restaurant and bar. You'll never want to leave Dick’s Sporting Goods Park! Click here to read more.

Searching for a Score: The Rapids are currently in their longest scoring draught of the year which has reached 223 minutes following the game against Real Salt Lake. Colorado’s last goal was Conor Casey’s 47th minute goal against Kansas City on Aug. 16. Four times this year the Rapids have gone more than 100 minutes without scoring and have twice gone exactly 90 minutes between goals.

Here are the four longest streaks this season:

Minutes- Start to End223 - Aug. 16 vs. KC to Current214 - July 19 at DAL to Aug. 16 vs. KC198 - April 12 at NE to April 26 at CHI160 - June 14 at TOR to June 28 at CLB

Rapids Youth Teams Update: The club is in the process of evaluating Under-16 and Under-18 players for the 2008-09 Development Academy season which begins in November. Finally registration is open for the Rapids Junior Academy leagues that will begin this fall in the Stapleton and Commerce City areas. For more information on any of the Rapids Academy programs call 303-727-3575 or click here.

Rapids In the Community: The Rapids play a strong role in our local community as well as on the field. Here are some of the outreach programs the Rapids are currently involved in:

** Shop with a Player on Friday Sept. 12 from 4-6 p.m. Fifteen kids from the Boys &amp; Girls Club will receive a $100 "back to school" shopping spree courtesy of Dick’s Sporting Goods at their store in Lakewood and they will shop with Rapids players.

** The Rapids Food Bank of the Rockies and Teammates for Kids are working together to provide nutritious food to lower income families. Food Bank of the Rockies created the Totes of Hope program and the Rapids and Teammates for Kids will donate $5000 dollars to this program to fill a Colorado Rapids backpack every Friday afternoon for one full calendar year for 40 children at the Commerce City Boys &amp; Girls Club. Pre-game at the Rapids game on Sept. 20 a check in the amount of $5000 will be presented to Food Bank of the Rockies for Totes of Hope and the Commerce City Boys &amp; Girls Club. The 40 children will parade around the field wearing their backpacks during the check presentation.

** The Rapids Passback and Soccer Dreams Without Borders will be collecting new and slightly used soccer gear during the Rapids vs. New England Revolution match on Saturday Sept. 20 at 7 p.m. at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. Every family donating will receive a buy one get one free ticket voucher to the Rapids vs. Houston Dynamo match on Saturday Oct. 4. This will mark the fourth and final Passback equipment collection during the Rapids 2008 season and equipment will be collected outside Gates B and G beginning an hour and a half prior to kickoff.